At the winter market, bedding showrooms overflowed with clever innovations, steady traffic and new collections.
After several consecutive quarters of earnings declines for some bedding companies, business for mattress manufacturers at the Las Vegas Market, Jan. 28-Feb. 1, appeared to be something of a gamble — but they tried to beat the odds.
Bolstered by above-average temps and sunny weather, the market teemed with attendees, and in several cases, it was hard for BedTimes to get into showrooms and keep appointments due to high traffic.
Michael Chambers, chief customer officer at Cleveland-based Rize Home, reported a year-to-year double-digit increase in attendance, and Jared Carlitz, co-owner of North Brunswick, New Jersey-based Bedding Industries of America, noted consistent visitors. “We’re very happy with the traffic that we’ve had and with the level of dealers. We’ve had a lot of larger dealers come through the showroom,” Carlitz said.
Still, for others the market wasn’t exactly a royal flush.
“It has been a good market for us, and I would emphasize good,” said Gerry Borreggine, president and CEO at Princeton, New Jersey-based Therapedic International. “It hasn’t been a grand slam market in terms of attendance … but it’s good.”
Laurie Tokarz, CEO of Oaklawn, Illinois-based Restonic, agreed with Borreggine. “I will tell you that traffic is probably flat to what we’ve seen in the past,” Tokarz said. “I was hoping for a little bit more of a lift this market.”
She characterized the mood of the market as “curious,” saying that many attendees were looking for ways to increase their marketing efforts — especially digital ones — after Covid-19, when the demand was so high.
“Back then, they were just working to get what they could out the door, and really, they didn’t need to advertise,” Tokarz said. “So, last year, it was a little bit of a smack of reality, and I think that now they realize they’ve got to get back into the marketing game.”
In the marketing realm, one message that stood out throughout the World Market Center was an emphasis on health. There were athletic influencer-led advertising campaigns that touted the recovery benefits of certain mattresses and manufacturers who emphasized restorative sleep with components like proprietary materials to create advanced pressure relief.
Other products calibrated temperature for more restful sleep climates. Cooling continued to be a big trend, with phase-change material, cool-to-the-touch covers and even beds with built-in machines to create an active cooling experience for sleepers.
Speaking of machines, with the new frontier of artificial intelligence, it’s appropriate that technology-integrated smart beds had a starring role at the show, from connected apps that monitor users’ health measurements and make recommendations for a better night’s sleep to adjustable bases with sound-powered massages that automatically increase the incline when it senses snoring.
An interesting parallel between trends was that even with a focus on technology, there seemed to be a simultaneous return to nature. Certain companies emphasized natural materials and components in products like cotton sourced near one Virginia headquarters to the use of Joma Memory Wool, an alternative to memory foam. Sleep accessories like sheet sets made of organic cotton or hemp were seen in some showrooms. Also notable were zippable mattresses that allow for individual layers to be replaced rather than the product in its entirety.
Although manufacturers appeared to have a range of experiences at this market, overall, it seemed to be a winning hand. Flip the page to check out our complete coverage, jam-packed with innovative product debuts and refreshed collections, representing manufacturers from around the world.
Moving Up
Therapedic International’s showroom was buzzing with activity over its new line, Nyx. Inspired by the Greek goddess of night, the four-model collection (two pillow tops and two tight tops) features 100% organic cotton fabrics, 100% organic latex and Joma Memory Wool. “Primarily, Nyx strengthens our upper-end offerings. We will position it at the top of our collections,” said Gerry Borreggine, president and CEO of Princeton, New Jersey-based Therapedic. “It touts a high-quality story — with a natural and organic angle — that dealers can easily communicate at the point of sale. The product made a strong visual impact with dealers at the market, as well. Retailers gave the line high marks on aesthetics and consumer appeal. We are very excited about bringing it to retailers throughout the country,” he said. Nyx retails from $2,499 to $2,999.
Foray Into Luxury Memory Foam
E.S. Kluft & Co. enhanced its luxe mattress portfolio with the nine-bed Pinnacle collection, a new line from its Aireloom brand. Six of the beds are made with memory foam comfort and support layers. The other three hybrid versions contain both an innerspring core and memory foam. “We’re entering a new category with our luxury specialty collection,” said Magali Castillo, vice president of marketing for the Rancho Cucamonga, California-based company. “This addition to our innerspring and latex products provides our retailers with more options for their luxury-minded consumers. And, so far, the feedback has been extremely positive.”
Stepping Up at Serta
To clearly define its product lineup and offer a step-up value proposition that’s easy for consumers to understand — and for retailers to drive sales — Serta Simmons Bedding LLC rolled out a comprehensive new Serta collection. The six mattress lines offer increasing benefits from the entry-level foam Serta Classic ($399) to the latex-loaded iComfortPro ($4,999). “A key differentiator is the zoned comfort. We provide exceptional ergonomic and anatomic support based on the fact that our bodies are five-zoned,” said Tim Oakhill, chief marketing officer of the Doraville, Georgia-based company. “We’ve designed the beds with support characteristics that are identical to how we’re built anatomically.” (Serta’s Cameron MacLaughlan points to a display of the premium all-foam five ZoneResponse design in the Serta iComfortPro.)
Whole Sleep
Paramount Sleep Co. refreshed its Hypnos program by introducing the new Hypnos Whole Sleep collection, featuring a cotton series and a wool series. At market, Paramount spotlighted Cotton 8, a model with a heavy-duty edge and a redesigned coil unit with a comfort core. “Hypnos is a luxury mattress where comfort and support are derived from natural and sustainable componentry and upholstery materials, with no poly foam or visco foam anywhere in the construction,” said Steven Maddox, director of sales for the Norfolk, Virginia-based company. Cotton 6, Cotton 7, Cotton 8 and Cotton PT retail for $2,999, $3,599, $4,499 and $5,999, respectively.
Need More Beautyrest?
Doraville, Georgia-based Serta Simmons Bedding LLC introduced its entry-level Beauty Sleep brand ($699, using the original Beautyrest pocketed coils) and revamped Beautyrest Black with the triple-stranded pocketed coil technology in four series step-up designed to increase margins for retailers. “Beauty Sleep is a way to drive consumers into the franchise,” said Tim Oakhill, SSB chief marketing officer. “Topping out the Beautyrest line with Beautyrest Black provides our dealers with a full product platform from entry level to premium luxury with an ever-increasing selling story backed demonstrable feature sets to deliver an incredible sleep experience.”
Sleep Needs
“We focus on three key consumer needs: aches and pain relief, snore response and hot sleep,” said Natalie Kustelski, brand manager for Tempur Sealy International Inc. Inside the packed showroom, the Lexington, Kentucky-based mattress and sleep products manufacturer displayed its new three-model Tempur-Adapt mattress collection for advanced pressure relief, which starts at $2,199. Also on the floor, the new Tempur-Activebreeze smart bed, with dual-zone climate controls, which allows for personalization for sleep partners and delivers a sleep temperature range of as much as 30 degrees*. Sleepers can choose from low, medium or high cooling or even bed warming. It’s integrated with Sleeptracker-AI, the company’s app that tracks sleep quality and can make recommendations for a better night’s sleep. An adjustable set retails for $9,998.
*Cooling based on average heat index at mattress surface with the high fan setting measured over an 8 hour period; warming based on mattress surface temperature after a 60-minute period.
Simplified, but ‘Scrumptious’
McRoskey Mattress Works brought back its heritage Air Flex by McRoskey with today’s market in mind. The new five-step range, with a gentle and firm model in each step, is constructed with only steel, latex and wool. The line uses Forest Stewardship Council-certified N-zero or N-zed Talalay latex — “the softest most generous latex that anybody has ever made,” said Rion Morgenstern, CEO of McRoskey Mattress Works. “It just makes the feel of the mattress scrumptious.” The tufted, two-sided mattresses are adorned with a mirror image of the Golden Gate Bridge on the panel, a nod to the brand’s San Francisco roots. Suggested retail is $4,000 to $10,000.
Embracing All-Natural Latex
Responding to demand for more eco-friendly mattresses at a more affordable price, Bedding Industries of America debuted its Embrace Sleep collection. The new line of latex mattresses features three models, both split-head queen and king versions, in 8-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch heights. Constructed using Global Organic Latex Standard-certified Dunlop latex, the line retails from $2,500 in queen. “We have a beautiful cotton cover and an all-natural FR solution, no fiberglass, no chemical flame retardant,” said Jared Carlitz, co-owner of the North Brunswick, New Jersey-based company. “A lot of customers are looking for something that’s more natural, and latex is the most durable, luxurious comfort layer in the industry.”
Dream Team
Logicdata and Dreamotion combined forces in a first-time joint showroom. Both brands are part of the Jiecang Group, based in Xinchang County in the Zhejiang province in China, and came together to “present their unique blend of high-class European design and Asian industrial potential,” according to a news release. Logicdata showcased its Cosmo Vienna Luxe, its top-of-the-line adjustable base with new bells and whistles, including underbed lighting, massage and built-in USB ports on both sides of the bed. Suggested retail is $1,199.
SmartLife Gets Smarter
Going into its fifth year, SmartLife by King Koil got a refresh with new visuals and logos, as well as new features, such as a cover with cooling phase-change material. “We now offer four beds, and we have a triple choice of firm, medium and plush,” said Ken Swinarski, senior vice president of creative and strategic planning at the Avondale, Arizona-based company. The step-up Latex Plush model features Talalay latex and lavender memory foam. “It gives the bed a really soft, plush feel,” he said. Retails start at $4,199 in queen.
Coming Up Copper
Spring Air International launched a Sleep Copper collection including three beds with NatuVerex cover fabric. Designed to help sleepers recover faster, the material contains a high copper content that can help reduce inflammation. Beneath the knit cover, the designs feature varying depths of either copper-infused memory foam or copper-infused latex. Suggested retails range from $1,599 to $2,599. “There’s copper in the top panel and there’s also copper in the foams,” said Nick Bates, president of the Woburn, Massachusetts-based licensing group. “But the benefit comes from the 30% copper content that’s in the cover, and these mattresses are also very, very comfortable. … It’s been one of the best picked-up lines in the showroom.”
New ERA
Spaldin, with U.S. headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, embraced technology with the introduction of its ERA smart mattress. With futuristic-looking displays, the three-model line drew attention to its adaptive technology. Each mattress contains at least eight air chambers on each side; the top model has 12. Step-up models include sensors to monitor heart and respiration rates and the top model offers heating, cooling and massage. Consumers can also purchase smart pillows that have an air chamber in the neck area and another in the head area that can adjust according to ergonomic needs.
To Enfinity and Beyond
On Tuesday, typically a slower day at market, buyers were still streaming into the South Bay International showroom, attracted by new sleep products — from eco-friendly mattresses to the Enfinity Lounger. Half bed and half chaise, the lounger is built with the same foams as South Bay’s mattresses. Thanks to an adjustable base, the twin-bed-size piece lies flat, and it has an available sheet set. Other new products include two mattress lines (bamboo charcoal-infused foam and plant-based foam), as well as a power base with lumbar adjustment. “We’re excited to launch products that enhance overall wellness, addressing both the needs of our customers and the health of our planet,” said Toby Konetzny, CEO of South Bay, with U.S. headquarters in Rancho Cucamonga, California.
Symphony of Accessories
From its new showroom, Symphony Sleep debuted its Elevation kit, designed to incline the entire bed base as much as 12 degrees. “We developed this kit based on the technology of the third motor, which allows the base to elevate the head above your feet while maintaining your spine angle,” said John Schulte, CEO of the adjustable base company headquartered in St. Peters, Missouri. “Maintaining your spine angle allows the base to be used for any sleeping position, so all users can enjoy the benefits of that inclined sleeping position.” The company also debuted a High-Low Lift kit and underbed personal safety storage.
Slimmer and Lighter
Mlily USA was on trend, showcasing two new adjustable bases, the MS200 and the MS300. “Adjustable bases are becoming more and more popular for end consumers,” said Derek Leishman, national sales director for the Knoxville, Tennessee-based company. Changes from previous models include a slimmer deck and lighter base, which “makes it great for transportation, storage and delivery,” Leishman added. The MS300 also includes underbed LEDs, USB charging ports and built-in massage with three presets. The MS200 retails for $1,299; the MS300 for $1,699.
Comfortable Assortment
“Our new Comfort Tech assortment was created for not only the end user in mind, but also for those retail partners who are looking for a tiered value-add, sleep solution foam/fiber pillow and topper assortment to fit their product needs,” said Ken Brown, vice president of consumer products for Richmond, Virginia-based Carpenter Co. The Performance pillows and Performance toppers span three levels, including the Comfort Tech Cozy Comfort assortment ($15 to $250), Comfort Tech Enhanced Comfort assortment ($40 to $150) and the Comfort Tech Supreme Comfort assortment ($60 to $300). “We are very pleased with how our Comfort Tech line was received during the Vegas market and look forward to its eventual rollout later this year,” Brown added.
Look and Feel
Blu Sleep’s latest pillows look like art. With dramatic blue or black gel swirls in its Italian foam line, the Swirly Gel and Swirly Graphite pillows are priced at $89. Additionally, the Pompano Beach, Florida-based company introduced its Comfy pillow, which as the name implies, offers deep comfort by mimicking the feel of a down pillow. The pillow is wrapped in a Tencel cover and is priced at $199.
Putting It on Auto Pilot
Diamond Mattress took off into the smart bed category with Auto Pilot. Controlled by a wireless remote or an app, the mattress uses smart bed technology to help provide deeper, more restorative sleep by adapting to the sleeper throughout the night. “We had to find the right materials and layers so that you get a really good-feeling mattress while you still feel the adaptability of the smart cells underneath,” said Patrick Wolf, vice president of sales and education at the Rancho Dominguez, California-based company. Wolf said the company found the right formula, with the right amount of high-quality foams, “and the feedback has been fantastic about the comfort because of those layers.”
Customatic’s Opus
Style meets substance in Customatic Technologies’ new smart bed Opus. Bluetooth connectivity allows sleepers to play music, while motion-activated underbed lighting comes in seven color options. To assist in quality sleep, the VibraSense Sound Environment uses sound waves to create a massage, and a SnoreSense sleep tracker adjusts the bed in four-degree increments to help alleviate snoring. “Our goal is to continually enhance each element of the sleep system to provide advanced wellness with enhanced lifestyle designs. We have been able to do exactly that with the introduction of Opus,” said Sheila Luciano, vice president of business development for the Natick, Massachusetts-based company. Opus retails for $1,499.
Under the Mattress Solutions
Rize Home introduced an EZ Bed Frame, EZ Foundation, Deluxe Platform Base and Rizer Accessory. The bed frame and foundation assemble within minutes (with no tools) and come in a box that fits in the back of a sedan. The sturdy base offers storage under the bed, and the Rizer Accessory fits on to an adjustable base. The kit raises the head of the mattress up to 12 degrees to create a healthful, inclined sleep position. “We are trying to offer solutions from the mattress down,” said Michael Chambers, chief customer officer at the Cleveland, Ohio-based company. “Retailers will be able to increase their ticket by offering a solution as an adjustable base accessory, which really doesn’t exist in the marketplace.”
Sustainable Sheets
“People are starting to be more conscious about the products they use, so it is our responsibility to do the same,” said Rachel Gomez, vice president of marketing for DreamFit. The Cullman, Alabama-based company debuted two sheet sets under its DreamHealth collection, a 100% organic cotton set ($199) and the Bamboo Stretch Knit, a bamboo viscose set ($229). Both feature the company’s patented no-slip, silicone corner bands and come in five colors: white, gray, ivory, sage and blue.
Uplifting Experience
Molecule, a brand owned by Radnor, Pennsylvania-based company FXI that focuses on restorative sleep through innovative technology, introduced its five-bed Reflex collection. “What’s unique about this program are two things. Number one, it’s a very lifting experience, not so much that slower sink-in feeling,” said Travis Thigpen, vice president of sales for Molecule. “And then the exclusive LiftCOR technology, a unique cut foam layer with specifically targeted zoning, via our unique gel dots. It provides 75% more support and ensures proper postural alignment.” With three foam and two hybrid models, the suggested retail price ranges from $999 to $2,000.
Cooling Off at Kingsdown
Mebane, North Carolina-based Kingsdown introduced the K2 all-foam collection at the summer Las Vegas Market, and now the company has expanded it to include hybrid versions, as well as models with a patterned honeycomb gel. “We’re using this honeycomb gel grid on top of memory foam to create a feel that we’ve never been able to create with conventional foams,” said Kingsdown Chair Mike James. “The cooling and the airflow are second to none. We also use centigrade strips on the inside of the mattress to draw the heat away from the body in all three collections.”
New Estate Models
Tempur Sealy International’s Stearns & Foster brand revealed two new models in its Lux Estate and Estate collections. The Lux Estate pillow-top ($3,999) includes the brand’s proprietary IntelliCoil and Tempur-Indulge memory foam. “What makes this bed different from others in the Lux Estate collection is you have an inch of premium memory foam right in the quilt layers,” said Ali Bowen, director of brand management. The Lexington, Kentucky-based brand’s new Estate collection also features IntelliCoil and premium memory foams and retails for $1,999.
Zoned and Cool
Inside Casper’s showroom, new CEO Joe Megibow helped show off the company’s relaunched five-model line. Casper One ($875 to $1,745) is an all-foam mattress topped with a layer of Breathe Flex Foam. Casper Dream ($1,495 to $1,745) contains responsive foam with pocketed coils. Casper’s DreamMax ($2,495 to $3,875), also hybrid, is ideal for side sleepers and features the New York-based company’s Zoned Support Max. “By having the different zone forces in the foam itself, which is a combination of different density foams, and with the contouring, it’ll better adapt to your body shape,” Megibow said. On the cooling side, hybrid mattresses Casper Snow ($1,875 to $3,125) and Casper Snow Max ($3,125 to $4,625) feature phase-change material and the company’s proprietary HeatDelete bands.
